What is an Average ACT Score

What is an Average ACT Score Whether youve recently taken the ACT or you have an upcoming test date, you are likely asking the question, What is an average ACT score? Knowing the answer to this question can be helpful for a plethora of reasons, including gauging where you fall compared to other students applying to your target schools and establishing your goal score. According to ACT, Inc., the average ACT score in 2017 was a 21 (on a scale of 1-36). What this means is, on average, 50 percent of test-takers scored a 21 on their ACT. What does this mean for you? When understanding the breakdown of an average ACT score, its important to know how the ACT sections are scored, how schools use the ACT, and how to set your personal target score. Heres what youll find in this article: How the ACT is scored How ACT sections are scored What to know about the optional ACT Essay What the additional scores are on your ACT score report How schools use the ACT What this ACT breakdown means for you. Understanding ACT scoring can be intimidating at first glance, and dissecting the average ACT score can be confusing. Keep reading to learn how the ACT is scored, what you need to know about the optional ACT writing section, and what the average ACT score breakdown means for you. How is the ACT scored? The ACT exam sets out to test students readiness to excel in college-level courses. For decades, the SAT was the go-to test for high school juniors and seniors who planned to attend college. Now, in certain parts of the countryparticularly the Midwestthe ACT is as or more common than the SAT. While comparison to others is often discouraged, when it comes to college admissions, comparing one student to another is precisely what admissions committees do. In light of this reality, it can be helpful for you to know and understand your ACT score, as well as how it compares to the average ACT score. The average ACT score is a 21. In light of this information, a score of 32 (for example) would be well above average. This is a positive sign, but your composite score doesnt offer a complete picture of your academic abilities. Instead, consider it a quick reference. For instance, if Person A earned a score of 30, you can assume that he or she did relatively well on all four sections, whereas a score of 18 would suggest that he or she did poorly on one or more of the sections. Your overall, or composite, ACT result is an averaged, scaled score that reflects your performance in each section. Let's take the following scenario, for example, if you earned a: 30 in English 33 in Mathematics 31 in Reading 34 in Science. Your composite score would be a 32. This is due to the averaging of each section. Essentially, each sections score is added together and divided by four. This will give you your composite score. The below chart illustrates how percentile rankings coincide with your ACT score. As shown, if you receive an ACT score of 25, your score falls in the top 20 percent of test-takers. Percentile ACT Score (out of 36) Top 1% 34 or higher Top 5% 30 Top 10% 28 Top 20% 25 Top 30% 23 Top 40% 22 Top 50% average 21 *The above data comes from ACT.org. Rather than looking solely at your composite score as a measure of your abilities, the section scores, benchmarks, and rankings made available to you on your official score report will tell you far more about where you truly stand. ACT terms can be confusing at first, especially when attempting to analyze your score report. Below is an ACT keywords chart to reference when understanding your ACT score. Understanding what each score you receive means will help you to better grasp the breakdown of your score, and in turn, compare it to the national average ACT score. How are ACT sections scored? As previously mentioned, each of the four sections on the ACT has a raw score. The English section, for example, has 75 questions. If you answer all 75 correctly, your raw score would be 75. This score is then converted to a scaled result between 1 and 36 points, which is further divided into two subscores. Why are there subscores? Each portion of the ACT tests you on various aspects of a particular subject. In the English section, you will be tested on your ability to comprehend and employ the mechanics of the language, as well as your ability to craft an argument. Each subscore falls between 1 and 18, for a total of 1 to 36 points. (Note that 1 is the lowest, and that 18 or 36 is the highest.) Benchmark Average ACT English score 18 20.3 ACT Math Score 22 20.7 ACT Reading Score 22 21.4 ACT Science Score 23 20.9 When analyzing your English score, the first metric to consider is the benchmark score, which, according to ACT, Inc., indicates at least a 50% chance of getting a B or higher or about a 75% chance of getting a C or higher in a first-year college class... Thus, your score should be above the benchmark. For the English section, the benchmark score is 18. If you earn an 18 or above, you are likely ready for college-level English material. The average score for this section is 20.3. Using the score from our hypothetical scenario, you earned a 30 in English, which means that your score is above average and in the 91st percentile. The Mathematics portion of the ACT tests students in three areas: pre-algebra/elementary algebra, algebra/coordinate geometry, and plane geometry/trigonometry. The benchmark score for the ACT Mathematics section is 22, and the national average is 20.7. If you were to earn a score of 18 on this portion (rather than our hypothetical of 33), you would fall below the benchmark and the national average, with a rank in the 45th percentile. In this case, you can see how an above-average composite score might provide an inaccurate representation of your abilities across different fields of study. If they were to take a closer look at your section scores, admissions officials would realize that your math skills are somewhat below average and in need of improvement. With that said, the national average suggests that many ACT test-takers perform at a below-average level on the Mathematics portion, so you would not be alone. The Reading section consists of two subscores that test your comprehension of the social studies/sciences and arts/literature. The first two portions of this subtest, social studies and natural sciences, present passages from fields like anthropology, chemistry, and psychology. The third and fourth portions, arts and literature, present passages from novels and personal essays. Each passages purpose is to evaluate your ability to grasp the concepts being presented, to identify the main ideas, and to use reasoning to arrive at the point of the work. You may also be asked to identify implicit meaning or to demonstrate an understanding of certain words in context. In this case, the benchmark is 22, and the national average is 21.4. Recalling our hypothetical scenario, you received a 31, which places you above the benchmark. You are also in the 91st percentile. You performed at an above-average level, and you should be prepared for college-level reading comprehension tasks. Unlike other sections of the ACT, the Science portion has no subscores, and you will only receive a single score between 1 and 36. The benchmark for this section is 23, the highest of all four portions of the ACT. The Science section measures your comprehension of data sets like charts and graphs, while also assessing your knowledge of the fundamental concepts and theories that drive the field. You may be asked to read research summaries or to compare conflicting viewpoints. The average Science score is 20.9, which falls below the benchmark. With a hypothetical score of 34, you would be well above average and in the 99th percentile. [RELATED: What I Wish I Knew About Taking the ACT/SAT] What should you know about the optional ACT Essay? As you now know, your ACT score is comprised of four sections, but there is also an optional fifth sectionthe Writing subtest, which requires the composition of a short essay. Before you decide whether or not you will take the ACT essay, keep in mind that although it will not change your composite score, it is required by certain schools and recommended by others. Its important to note that ACT Writing is less firmly required than in past years. Many schools, particularly Ivy League universities, are choosing to make the essay portion of the ACT optional for students. In May 2018, schools such as Yale University, Harvard University, and Dartmouth University made the essay optional for students in future classes. The latest to announce this change in requirements is Brown University, who dropped the ACT essay requirement early in July 2018. With fewer and fewer schools requiring the ACT essay, does this mean you shouldnt take it? Its key to note that although schools are dropping the ACT essay requirement, this doesnt mean the essay is not recommended. Taking the essay portion can strengthen existing writing skills and prepare you for college writing. Additionally, if you feel you are a strong writer, the ACT essay can showcase your skills to schools. In order to determine whether the colleges and universities to which you are applying require this ACT component, speak with the admissions department or review the schools website. In addition to the above mentioned schools, the following universities no longer require the ACT essay: Columbia University University of Pennsylvania Cornell University Stanford University Princeton University California Institute of Technology. During the Writing section of the ACT, you will be provided with an issue and three different perspectives on that issue. Once you have read the passage, you will be asked to analyze each perspective and to develop a written response that takes all three into consideration and demonstrates your critical thinking skills. The purpose of the ACT essay is to assess a students critical reading and thinking skills, as well as his or her ability to form an argument based on the evidence presented in the text. As with the other sections, you will be given a score between 1 and 36. There is no benchmark for the Writing subtest and no current average. However, there are four subscores that range from 2 to 12: ideas and analysis, development and support, organization, and language use and conventions. [RELATED: How to Prepare for the ACT Essay] What are the additional scores on my ACT score report? The information presented thus far explains what each subject area measures, how to interpret your score, and how a given result compares to the national average. When you receive your ACT score report, however, you will notice that there are additional scores and percentages reported along with your composite and section scores. The first is your English Language Arts (or ELA) score, which combines your English, Reading, and Writing scores into a single scaled and averaged score between 1 and 36. The purpose of this metric is to provide a single score that reflects your abilities in subjects like the humanities. Assume you earned a 25 on the English section, a 22 on the Reading section, and a 25 on the Writing section. Your ELA score would be a 24. While the data on national averages has not yet been released, you would be in the 70th percentile according to ACT, Inc. The same equation is used to calculate a single score for Mathematics and Science. In this case, a STEM score of 19 would fall in the 44th percentile. This section of your report also provides insight into your understanding of complex texts and what the ACT refers to as Progress Toward Career Readiness. The scales for these items can be viewed here. Finally, when you register for the ACT, you will be asked to provide the names of those schools that should receive your score report. When you receive your results, you will notice that ACT, Inc. has included information on the average scores for enrolled first-year students at your first four institutions, as well as GPAs and class rankings. How do schools use the ACT? Each college or university is unique, and each institution has something different in mind when it comes to its ideal applicant. This means that an average or lower-than-average ACT score will not necessarily prevent you from attending the school of your choice. Below is a chart detailing the average ACT score at select institutions. Its key to remember that universitiesIvy League or otherwiselook at factors besides standardized test scores. Schools use the ACT as one factor, in addition to others, when making admissions decisions. They note participation in extracurricular and volunteer activities, cumulative GPA, and types of courses you took in high school, to name a few. University Average ACT Score in 2017 Princeton University 32-36 Dartmouth College 32 Columbia University 33-35 Cornell University 33 Its best not to make decisions about where to apply based solely on the average ACT scores of accepted students, since college admissions decisions are based on a number of factors. Still, knowing how your score compares to other applicants can help you narrow down your short list of schools. Such data can help you eliminate outliers that are too high or too low given your own metrics. You can also call or email the admissions department, and discuss how your scores will affect your chances of admission. What does this ACT breakdown mean for me? In many cases, composite scores, section scores, subscores, benchmarks, national averages, and the like are the purvey of admissions committees, high school guidance counselors, and parents. Nevertheless, breaking down these various scores can provide you with a wealth of important informationnot just about the average ACT score, but also about what schools might be looking for from applicants, and how you can become a more appealing candidate. If this information leads you to believe you should be making a bigger effort to improve your ACT score, consider using ACT practice tests or ACT tutoring for help. In your personal statement, for instance, you will probably explain who you are as a person and who you are as a student. This may include a summary of your academic areas of interest and one or more majors that you are considering pursuing. Whatever you tell admissions committees about your academic goals and dreams, you should ensure that your statement is enhanced and supported by your ACT scores. If, for example, you love science and you hope to pursue a degree in chemistry, a low score on the Science section of the ACT could suggest that you might not be ready for college-level science courses. As a result, you might not receive an offer of admission. [RELATED: What to Do When Rejected from Your Dream School] To identify your goal score, you can both review how ACT scoring is broken down and establish reliable prep strategies. The best way to understand how you will perform on the ACT leading up to the exam is to take ACT practice tests. Practice tests can help identify areas of both strength and weakness. You can note whether you need improvement on time management or if you excel at specific concepts. Once you have taken your practice test, set aside time to review the results and note where you should be placing the bulk of your prep time. Identify your goal score by researching the average ACT score of accepted students at your schools of interest and comparing this with your practice test results. ACT tutoring is another option to pinpoint areas of improvement and set specific prep strategies for success on the exam. [RELATED: How to Create an ACT Prep Plan] Understanding the average ACT score can be beneficial to you for a multitude of reasons. Knowing that the average ACT score is 21 can help you to identify your target score and properly prep for the exam. Once you understand the average ACT score and how it is broken down, you can properly assess what the average ACT score means for you. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us atblog@varsitytutors.com.

My Experience at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

My Experience at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Michael received his Bachelors degree in Earth Systems, Environment and Society from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is currently a tutor in Portland specializing in ACT Science tutoring, Earth Science tutoring, Environmental Science tutoring, and several other subjects. See what he had to say about his experience at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Michael: The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is in a classic college town setting, about three hours south of Chicago. Although relatively urban, the campus itself is typically safe. The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District provides free buses to students. The buses go all over campus, and it is very easy to get around without a car or bike. Most buildings are within walking distance of the on-campus housing options. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Michael: Though it depends on the size of the class and a students given major, the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants all typically make themselves available to students on a regular basis. It may be difficult to receive a lot of one-on-one attention from a professor in a larger class, but these courses often have smaller lab or discussion sections in which teaching assistants are available. It will be easier to access your academic adviser if you are enrolled in a smaller, newer major. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Michael:There are a variety of dorms all across campus. They all offer good dining options and plenty of opportunities to socialize with other students including access to different clubs, intramural sports, etc. Depending on the dormyou choose, rooms can range from a rudimentary summer camp feel to a plush hotel (including private bathrooms). VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Michael:University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is known mostly for its Business (specifically Accounting) and Engineering programs, which are both considered top-tier. I majored in Earth Systems, Environment and Society (ESES) and minored in History during my time there. ESES was a brand new major when I was there, and I chose to study it because the coursework in Environmental Science, Geology, Geography, and other fields appealed to me. Since the major was brand new, the program went through some growing pains during my time on campus, but I think the university did a good job overall. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Michael:I met many individuals around the dorms that I still stay in contact with to this day. It was pretty easy for me to meet people and make new friends as a freshman, in part because I made the decision to join a social fraternity. Greek life plays a significant role in campus social life, but it is by no means necessary. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has the largest Greek system in the country, but there are so many other options for meeting people. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Michael:Once again, this would depend on the major, but University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign seemed to have great student support services, and there were always different career fairs to attend. Many reputable companies do recruit on campus, specifically in the areas of Finance and Business. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Michael:At any big school like the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, crowding can be an issue in libraries and other study areas. This is especially the case at the Undergraduate Library. However, there are many other areas that are open to all students including the Grainger Engineering Library that frequently have ample space. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Michael:The total population of the Champaign-Urbana area is just around 230,000, which makes it more than just a small, quaint college town. As such, it has many of the amenities and nightlife options that larger towns offer. Since there are great bars and concert venues right on campus, many students stay near campus. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Michael:University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school, and its undergraduate enrollment is close to 33,000. Personally, I enjoyed being at a larger school, and I took the opportunity to meet many individuals. However, large class sizes are an unavoidable reality at a larger school. Having said that, I was generally pleased with my class sizes, and I was still able to enroll in plenty of classes with a smaller number of students. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Michael:One of my favorite courses was Geology 103 with Dr. Michael Stewart. I thoroughly enjoyed his teaching style and the content of the course. One day, he decided to take half of a class session to talk about ESES, a new major that I eventually decided to enroll in based upon my experience in his class. I do not regret that decision at all! Check out Michaels tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

10 Things to Do Before School Starts

10 Things to Do Before School Starts Suzy S. Summer is coming to an end are you ready for a new academic year? If not, dont fret. Get organized for back to school with these tips from online tutor  Natalie S Back-to-school prep is upon us! The summer is drawing to a close, and it will soon be time to get ready to begin a new school year. We know it can be overwhelming when you start to think about the long list of things to do in order to prepare for school, so here are some steps to help you get organized for back to school and start the year off on a successful note! 1) Write down your goals A new year is beginning and that means opportunities for a whole new set of experiences. Take a few minutes to write down five goals that you hope to accomplish this year, and think about how you can make this year better than the last one. Do you want to improve your knowledge of a specific subject, to prepare yourself for AP classes later on? Or maybe take on a new hobby, like photography or learning how to play an instrument? Get excited about whats in store! 2) Get one step ahead of everyone else If you know who your teachers are and you can easily contact them, consider sending an email asking for the class syllabus. Most teachers generally stick to the same schedule each year, so they can give you an idea of what books you might be reading or what concepts you might be working on in the first few weeks of school. If youre feeling ambitious, you can begin to read ahead or study some of those concepts on your own. This will help lighten your workload later in the semester when you have less time! 3) Review last year’s math concepts This is especially important if you’re advancing into a higher consecutive math class, like Algebra I to Algebra II, or Pre-Calculus to Calculus. Spend 20 minutes each day reviewing the concepts that you learned last year, and attempt to get ahead by reading over the first chapter or two for the new, more advanced course. 4) Form a study group Are you and a few of your friends taking the same class? Make a commitment to study together! Even if you all have different teachers, the core material will be the same. Set up a plan before school starts, so everyone builds it into their schedule from the beginning of the year. 5) Write Most students take an entire summer off from stringing eloquent arguments together, and because of this, their early semester essays suffer. Take 20 minutes each day and practice writing short introductory paragraphs. You may also want to get ahead by working with a writing tutor, or at least lining one up for when you need help with your first writing assignment. 6) Review last year’s foreign language notes If you’re taking Spanish, French, or any other foreign language, review the vocabulary and grammar rules before school begins. Most foreign language classes hit the ground running with very little review, so make sure you take the time to look through your old notes and books. 7) Identify the course you are least excited to take this year Maybe you really hate learning new math concepts, or perhaps biology just doesnt interest you at all. Regardless of the reason, figure out which subject might be the most challenging for you and start preparing for that class now. Do some online research, find a tutor through TakeLessons, and really dedicate some time to learning more about this subject. Even though it may not be fun, this will help a ton! 8) Purchase a daily planner This is perhaps the most important item to buy before the school year starts. It’s been proven time and time again that people are more effective when they write down their goals, plan out their days, and give themselves deadlines for projects and assignments. This is a great habit to get into at a young age, and it is a huge part of what makes people successful. Be disciplined, make yourself stick to a consistent schedule, and write down the top five things you want to accomplish each day. You will stay motivated and be more productive. Most importantly, you’ll be creating healthy habits that will facilitate success in your future endeavors. 9) Organize your study time before school starts Create a study chart depicting when you’ll study for each subject, and hold yourself accountable to making the time to study for those classes. Make sure you plan for some flexibility in case one subject needs more attention than another. 10) Seek out a tutor now It’s important to enter the new school year feeling confident in your abilities, so if you foresee any issues, don’t wait to find a tutor! Your workload is only going to become tougher and more intense as the year goes on. Be proactive and get the help you need, before youre really struggling. Follow these steps to get organized for back to school and you’ll be ready to start off the new year with confidence and a plan for success. Each year brings the possibility to learn, grow, and be more inspired than you were the year before. Enjoy the ride and embrace all of these newfound opportunities that will soon arise for you! Natalie S. tutors online in English, ESL, History, Phonics, Reading, and Test Prep. She received her BA in English Education at the University of Delaware, and her MA in English Literature at San Diego State University. Learn more about Natalie here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photos by Rick Payette, Mario Mancuso, Francisco Martins, Concordia University, Nathan Congleton, Alexa Clark, Christian Jensen, Sara Grajeda, Jimmie, Utah State Library,  comedy_nose

Best Economics Online Publications

Best Economics Online Publications Discover More About Economics In The News ChaptersKeep Up To Date with Reuters and the FTFollow UK Economic News with the BBCCheck Out the Powerhouses That are the Economist and ForbesFind The Online Publications That Best Suit YouSummaryThere are many different ways to learn about economics, and one of the easiest and most fun ways is to read the news.Although not every news story is necessarily about economics, the fact that economics influences so much of our daily lives means that often you can improve your understanding of financial economics, banking, or global economics just by reading daily news stories and keeping up to date with the latest political developments.With that in mind, we’ve pulled together a list of where you can find quality online economics news that will help give you a broader outlook on this fascinating subject.Many UK economic news outlets have their own social media presence. (Source: CC BY 2.0, Blogtrepreneur, via Flickr)Facebook; andLinkedInWhat’s more, there’s also Reuters TV as well as a Reuters Live Blog, so whether you prefer to have your news delivered via tweet, TV, or through an online article, there’s a format to suit you (you can listen to podcasts as well).What's more, the Financial Times almost needs no introduction as an online publication. With a focus on business and economic news, the publication has become the go-to for anyone working or interested in finance and economics. With content that focuses on domestic as well as international news, it’s also a great one-stop-shop if you want to learn more about economics on a global level.Equally, if you plan on working within finance and are currently studying economics or business at school or university, then you’d also do well to catch up with the daily news on Bloomberg. Although Bloomberg News is a U.S. based news agency, it provides news stories from all regions of the globe, including Europe, so there are plenty of relevant and engaging articles to catch up on.Get a London economics tutor her e.Follow UK Economic News with the BBCIf you’re looking for news that is more local in focus, then you could do far worse than the BBC. The BBC covers a wide range of news, from business and banks to technology, entertainment and world news.Although it doesn’t claim to have a particular emphasis on economic news, there is solid coverage of UK business news, and it is a great resource to use when looking for an insight into economic trends.An equally good source for the latest information on UK business and finance is the Guardian’s website. If you’re looking for the latest information on the UK economy, as well as a place to read up on the daily headlines, then the Guardian has a wide range of articles for you to read, with new articles added regularly.So whether you would like to read more about stocks, wage volatility, government spending, currency markets, global wealth, or even the Chinese economy, you'll likely be able to find an article that will help you.What’s more , you can follow both the BBC and the Guardian on social media, as they both have an established social media presence. That means that you can stay up to date with the news even as you’re on the go, and as a result, you eliminate any uncertainty that you're missing out on the latest news updates.Ideally, it’s best to read a wide variety of newspapers and their columnists, for example:The BBC;The Guardian;The Independent; andThe TimesBy reading widely, not only will you find out about the different perspectives that the papers have, but you’ll also develop a wider understanding of the topic you’re reading about, whether that’s fiscal policy or the global economy.Titles such as the Economist issue weekly magazines with the latest UK  economics news. (Source: CC BY-SA 2.0, Sean Winters, Flickr)provides regular, informative content; andhas some form of focus on economic issues, whether that’s international trade or global financeYou’ll find that, once you’ve found a new s outlet that works for you, you’ll be more motivated to read that publication’s articles regularly. This will, in turn, give you more knowledge about past and current  issues, such as:changes in interest rates;the 2008 recession and the global financial crisis; andthe rate of GDP growth and economic growth or decline globallyKnowing about such issues will help your performance in class and help give you a successful outcome in your economics studies.What’s more, you can use certain online publications as great reference sources for an upcoming exam or essay. For example, the UK government has its own statistics website, which you can search if you want to cite any statistics that will help support an argument you’re making in a piece of homework.There are also online publications such as the OECD Observer that can help build your understanding of global economic issues. Although it’s unlikely you’ll be able to find an article that can be easily referenced in your essay, the OECD Observer has articles that cover a wide range of topics, including:the economy;governance;taxation; andtrade and investmentThis means that the publication is full of useful resources that can provide a solid overview of the issues, both economic and otherwise, that are impacting the world today.You often see economics in the news. (Source: CC0 1.0, geralt, Pixabay)SummaryAlthough reading an online economics publication is a great way to improve your understanding of economics and current affairs, the best way of getting into the habit of reading such news articles daily is to find a newspaper or news outlet that appeals to you.If you find the Financial Times too formal, then it may be that you’ll have better luck reading articles from the Economist. It’s all about experimenting and reading different stories to see what works and helps you learn more about different economies and how they are performing on the world economic stage.Although extra-curricular reading can b e a great way to supplement any economics A-level or university course, there are other ways to improve your grades.For example, hiring a tutor to help you in your upcoming exams is a great way to improve your grades, focus your learning on areas that you struggle with, whether that is macroeconomics, microeconomics, or the world economy. Additionally, tutors can help improve your exam technique.What’s more, tutoring, in combination with reading widely on the subject of economics, will stand you in great stead for upcoming exams. Sites such as Superprof have more than one qualified economics tutor near me that would be happy to boost your confidence in economics  and help you prepare for exam success.Learn economics online.

Does Practice Make Perfect

Does Practice Make Perfect Improving Academic Performance We all know that in order to acquire a new skill we have to practice. Anytime we want to learn something new in school, it requires practice as well. However, some methods of practice are far more effective than others. Often what separates great from average in school, sports, and other endeavors is not just natural talent but how they practice. Both quantity and quality of practice are important. It is apparent that people who love to practice often eventually outperform those who don’t. In general, the more you practice, the better the outcome will be. A student who studies every day for several months for the SAT is going to do better than a student who starts studying a few days before the test. However, there is a limit on how much practice a person can do, and you don’t want to practice so much that you start to feel burnt out. Getting good at something also depends on the quality of practice that you do. If you practice without knowing your specific needs for improvement, you are often ingraining the same mistakes you always make. Conversely, great performers in all areas practice deliberately. This means that they are constantly analyzing their performance looking for areas that need improvement. Quality practiceworks to improve performance because it builds up myelin sheath which insulates the axons that carry information in your brain. This allows information to travel more efficiently. Quality practice should have several characteristics: 1. Target weaknesses at the edge of your ability. Make sure that you are not just practicing skills that you already know. When you practice, it should be right at the cusp of what you are already able to do and what you are trying to learn but not currently able to do. Practice should feel challenging, and it is a good idea to practice mixed skillsinstead of always focusing on one skill at a time. Students who practice the current skill they are learning along with previous skills do better on future tests because they must pair each skill with the proper procedure. Sometimes it is helpful to have the honest feedback of a coach in sports or a teacher or tutor in academics to help analyze your performance and target skills to work on. Deliberate practice means breaking down the big thing you are learning into its parts. So, if you are taking a test, do a practice test and see which skills you are struggling with the most. Focus on learning those skills before taking the whole test again. 2. Focus on the task at hand by minimizing distractions. We are constantly distracted by our cellphones, Facebook, and other social media. Place all cell phones in a place where you cannot see or hear them while studying. If you need to use your device for studying, use an app like Offtime that blocks other programs and alerts for the time period that you are working. 3.Divide time into multiple daily practice sessions of limited duration. Practice for short periods of time where you are completely focused, and then take a break. If you work for too long, you will start to feel fatigued and you won’t be able to retain as much. Practicing for long periods of time also leaves you much more prone to distractions. 4. Practice slowly and work up to the speed that you need. Don’t worry about timing at first, worry about mastering the skill. Once you are able to perform the skill, then start practicing your timing. 5. Practice mentally between actual physical practice sessions. When you are not practicing, think about what was challenging and mentally rehearse those skills. Chances are that the next time you attempt them, they will seem easier. The old saying is that “practice makes perfect”. However, it is not just quantity of practice that makes a difference. People who become successful at any skill focus on strategies to make sure that their time is filled with high-quality practice. About the Author Nina Parrish is a former special education teacher and a licensed school counselor. She is the owner of Parrish Learning Zone a K-12 tutoring company in Virginia. Her blog The Learning Zone publishes content on education and parenting topics.

FIFA, the Church of Football - English Listening Exercise

FIFA, the Church of Football - English Listening Exercise Ok, we know that everyone is focused on the World Cup now, so we thought we should give you an English listening exercise about it. In this video comedian and football fan John Oliver makes some very funny, but very critical points about FIFA and the World Cup. The video is fairly long, so we made the listening exercise for the first 2 minutes, and the last minute. If you have time, watch the whole thing its quite interesting. If not, you can skip to the parts we used for the exercise.Ok, we know that everyone is focused on the World Cup now, so we thought we should give you an English listening exercise about it. In this video comedian and football fan John Oliver makes some very funny, but very critical points about FIFA and the World Cup. The video is fairly long, so we made the listening exercise for the first 2 minutes, and the last minute. If you have time, watch the whole thing its quite interesting. If not, you can skip to the parts we used for the exercise.Answer the quest ions below in comments, and well respond:First 2 Minutes:What is The Sausage Principle?I am both excited and _______ ______ about it.How does he describe soccer in America?Why is he conflicted about the world cup?Why does he say Brazilians are excited about everything?Starting at 12:05:Its very hard to ______ how I can get ___ ____ ___ from an organization thats ____ ___ ____  ____.What are the four things that he uses to compare football to religion?

TutorZ and ConsumerAffairs Partner

TutorZ and ConsumerAffairs Partner FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Port Hueneme, California, December 6th, 2016 TutorZ LLC, a leading in-person and online tutoring market place, has partnered with ConsumerAffairs LLC to better serve the tutoring needs of American parents and students. ConsumerAffairs a specialist of generating accurate and detailed rating and reviews for consumer products has grown threefold over the last few years. The company is enjoying millions of daily visitors in categories such as loans, housing and education. TutorZ is listed in the education/tutoring category. Because of its overall best reviews TutorZ appears at the very top spot of this tutoring category. In today’s online world, over 50% of consumers first research a product they would like to buy on the Internet. For example, when a student looks for best tutoring service, the Google and Bing search engines will show them the tutoring reviews on ConsumerAffairs. Thats how we shine! says TutorZ Founder Dirk Wagner. Dirk goes on by saying that Because we make finding experienced and affordable tutors so easy and have such a great customer service team, we garner so many 5 star reviews. Thanks to ConsumerAffaris more and more students will read about our great service proposition. They would go on to visit our siteâ€"www.tutorz.comâ€"and finally contact our tutors. Everyone wins! About TutorZ TutorZ.com operates a marketplace for students and parents to find qualified private and online tutors. Since its inception in 2006 TutorZ has successfully matched 250,000 students with its over 40,000 tutors nationwide. Contact Info For additional information on TutorZ contact marketing director May Kacharava. May Kacharava may@tutorz.com 805-288-7338 Port Hueneme, CA 93041 www.tutorz.com TutorZ and ConsumerAffairs Partner FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Port Hueneme, California, December 6th, 2016 TutorZ LLC, a leading in-person and online tutoring market place, has partnered with ConsumerAffairs LLC to better serve the tutoring needs of American parents and students. ConsumerAffairs a specialist of generating accurate and detailed rating and reviews for consumer products has grown threefold over the last few years. The company is enjoying millions of daily visitors in categories such as loans, housing and education. TutorZ is listed in the education/tutoring category. Because of its overall best reviews TutorZ appears at the very top spot of this tutoring category. In today’s online world, over 50% of consumers first research a product they would like to buy on the Internet. For example, when a student looks for best tutoring service, the Google and Bing search engines will show them the tutoring reviews on ConsumerAffairs. Thats how we shine! says TutorZ Founder Dirk Wagner. Dirk goes on by saying that Because we make finding experienced and affordable tutors so easy and have such a great customer service team, we garner so many 5 star reviews. Thanks to ConsumerAffaris more and more students will read about our great service proposition. They would go on to visit our siteâ€"www.tutorz.comâ€"and finally contact our tutors. Everyone wins! About TutorZ TutorZ.com operates a marketplace for students and parents to find qualified private and online tutors. Since its inception in 2006 TutorZ has successfully matched 250,000 students with its over 40,000 tutors nationwide. Contact Info For additional information on TutorZ contact marketing director May Kacharava. May Kacharava may@tutorz.com 805-288-7338 Port Hueneme, CA 93041 www.tutorz.com

Mango Languages Review A Practical and Comprehensive Look at the Program

Mango Languages Review A Practical and Comprehensive Look at the Program Mango Languages Review: A Practical and Comprehensive Look at the Program How about a language learning software that learns you instead of you learning it?Adaptive algorithms: that’s the Mango Languages promise. Mango Languages is an online and mobile learning resource thats said to evolve with you as you progress through the course. So what you get isnt just a self-paced language instruction, but a highly individualized learning experience that adapts to your study habits.No doubt that’s a big task.But has Mango actually delivered on that sweet promise, or has it turned sour in the process?Well, let’s find out.  Read on to see our Mango Languages review and find out if the program is right for you! What Is Mango Languages?Mango Languages is an award-winning, language-learning platform based in Farmington Hills, Michigan. It was founded in 2007 by a team of four ambitious innovators who wanted to leverage technology to bring down linguistic and cultural barriers.Mango aims to deliver practical conversational skills through proven methodologies so you can rapidly transition from a non-speaker to someone who can hold meaningful interactions in a foreign tongue.The folks behind Mango believe in organic language acquisition, so they created a product that doesn’t deal too heavily with grammar or vocabulary building. Focus is placed instead on pragmatic conversations, with grammar and vocabulary stealthily learned in the background. The idea is that as you progress through the course, your intuition and feel for the language increases.The company offers courses in over 70 languages, including the different regional branches of Arabic (Egyptian, Iraqi, Levantine and Modern Standard) and Spanish (Castilian and Latin American). There are also specialty language courses that focus on particular fields of work (eg. Business Spanish, Medical Spanish and Legal Spanish).If you want to learn about culture, like the Irish St. Patrick’s Day or the German Oktoberfest, there are short courses about those, too!And hey, if you or your frien d are learning English, Mango Languages is one of the best sites that can get the job doneâ€"what with their English course being taught from over 20 source languages.Mango Languages is available online and in app form for both iOS and Android devices. You can sync your progress across all devices for that seamless learning advantage. So whether you’re on the go, in a coffee shop with your laptop, or in bed with “night mode” turned on, you have Mango lessons on the ready.Mango is suited both for individual and institutional users. Educators can use Mango Classroom as a 24/7 teaching assistant helping organize class activities and assessments. Global businesses and government agencies (like the military) have utilized their software to help employees and personnel get a better grounding in the language and culture of their international assignments.The software is made available for free to countless partner public libraries around the world, as well.This Mango Languages review will focus on the program as experienced by the individual language learner.Mango Languages Subscription OptionsPersonal SubscriptionA personal subscription to Mango will set you back $17.99 a month. This price includes access to all the 70+ languages on offer. Youll be asked to pick a language as a take-off point, but don’t worry: You can switch and explore other languages anytime you like.You can create as many as five profiles. So if you’re a family of language enthusiasts, or among like-minded friends, you can go ahead and learn languages together. In addition, your subscription includes 24/7 support, progress tracking and parental controls.You can get onboard with a two-week free trial. You just need a credit card number and you’re good to go.From time to time, they do have promos to encourage new subscribers. For instance, as of this writing, Mango is priced at $7.99 for the first three months of subscription instead of the regular $17.99. Keep an eye out!Library Subscr iptionThere are actually thousands of local libraries that offer Mango for free. Yep, that’s right! For free.The question is: Is your local library one of them? Head over to the Mango website to find out. At this link, youll be able to search the Mango system by typing either the name of your library, the city or the zip code of your location. So for example, if you type “New York,” you’ll be given the list libraries in the area that offer the program.If you happen to have an account with a library that offers Mango Languages, you can have free access to the program ‘til the cows come home. All you have to do is link your library account to your Mango account.How to Link Mango Languages to Your Library AccountBefore you start these steps, make sure you have a Mango account. You can do that over on the main Mango Languages website.Via Browser:In the right-hand corner of your dashboard, youll find the user icon. Hover over it and choose “Edit your profile” from the pop-u p list.Click on “Settings.”On the left side of your screen, you’ll see the option which says, “Organizations.” Click on it.Next, click on the button which says, “Link an Account.”Now do a search for your library by either typing its name, your city or the zip code where its located (US or Canada). Click on your library in the search results.Enter your library card number and your PIN number. Then click “Connect.”Some users might see the “Launch Authentication” button instead of “Connect.” If youre one of those users, just click on “Launch Authentication” when the option appears.On the next page, simply enter the login details youre asked for. This will typically involve, again, your library username, library card number and PIN number.Manage that, and you’re now connected to Mango for free!Via Mobile:Download the Mango app.Open the application and tap on the “Try Free Sign Up” button. Create your profile.After going through the process of creatin g your profile, your home screen will show the “Your Profile” icon in the upper right-hand corner of your screen. Tap on it.Next, choose “Upgrade Account.”Then tap on the “Get” button, right next to the word “Free.”Youll then be asked to type in the name of your library, your city or your zip code. Tap on your library from the search results.Enter your library card number and tap on “Access Mango.”“Success!” You can now enjoy the unlocked features of Mango.And youre in!Now lets take a look at everything the program has to offer with our Mango Languages review. Enjoy!Mango Languages Review: A Practical and Comprehensive Look at the ProgramStandard Language Learning Program FeaturesInteractive LessonsThe standard Mango course is comprised of four or more “Units.” Each unit is broken up into “Chapters” and the chapters are further subdivided into “Lessons.” Major languages like English and Spanish have more content than the usual, compared to, say, N orwegian.Each lesson hits on the four main language skills: listening, reading, writing (typing) and most importantly, speaking. The lessons are interactive and come in the form of a slide deck, with each lesson containing 20 or more slides to run through.Lessons usually open with a dialogue containing target words and phrases. These are then presented in bits and pieces, with each subsequent slide adding more concepts and complexity to your understanding of the original dialogue.The slides build on previous ones. So you will, for example, go through individual words before you’re introduced to phrases, sentences and conversations. (The experience is often seamless.)Each screen involves some sort of activity or drill. It can be as easy as listening to how a new word is pronounced or a sorting task where you craft a sentence by rearranging words.Every now and then, cultural or grammar notes will land on your lap and help you get a firm grounding on the concepts presented. Sometimes , a picture or two might appear in order to illustrate a point.Going through each deck and working on the drills is said to increase your linguistic intuition and comprehension.Youll never be at a loss, either, because redundancy is built into the slides. Everything is “triple-layered.” This means that you’ll always have the word/phrase/sentence in lively fonts and colors,  its English translation and the audio pronunciation of the word/phrase/sentence.Recaps, Reviews and ReinforcementsAs mentioned, redundancies are built into the whole system. In addition to the repetitions and drills in the lessons itself, there are reinforcement exercises in each chapter and unit. These make sure that the grammar and conversational goals have been successfully integrated by the student. (These goals are shown at the start of every lesson.)The dashboard, which gives you everything you need to know at a single glance, shows your progress through the course so you can immediately pick up where you left off. The fact that you can also synchronize across devices means you won’t have any problems doing so.Also, the adaptive algorithms in place ensure that the daily review prompts received by individuals are very relevant to their learning needs.This should be a familiar concept if youve worked with FluentU before. If you havent, and you like the idea of a learning program that learns as you do, youll enjoy using both Mango Languages and FluentU. (Well talk a bit more about this power duo later in this post).Working with Native SpeakersMango courses are developed by expert linguists and passionate native speakers who pronounce the words, phrases and sentences, and who animate the conversations and dialogues in the lessons. The audio is the result of professionally-produced and studio-recorded sessions that ensure crisp and clear inputs.If at any time during the lesson you need to hear what a word or a phrase sounds like, you merely need to click or tap the green speaker ic on which you always find dead-center on your screen. This will get you a native speaker pronunciation.You can practice your own pronunciation by tapping on the orange microphone icon found next to the speaker icon. You can actually see your recorded voice patterns. You can then compare your recorded wave patterns to those of Mango experts. (The closer in form your wave patterns are to a native speaker’s, the better!)Unique Mango Languages Features and FunctionsThe previous section mentioned standard features that may be found in many other language courses. These next ones are somewhat unique to Mango:Autoplay FunctionAs a self-paced learning platform that relies on slide decks, Mango totally leaves it up to the user when to move to the next slide. Just click on the “right arrow” icon when you’re ready.But sometimes, like when you’re driving or busying yourself in the kitchen, you don’t have free use of your hands.Mango has you covered. With its autoplay function, you ca n progress through a lesson without smearing ketchup on your phone. With its preset timing, Mango can play in the background as you multitask to fluency.Literal and Dynamic TranslationsThere are many words and phrases in languages that dont have direct or meaningful translations into other languages.Idiomatic expressions are fertile grounds for these. The Spanish phrase “estar como una cabra” literally means “to be like a goat.” This could mean anything, from smelling like one or exclusively eating greens. The phrase actually means “to be a little crazy.”Instead of divining its meaning from the heavens, Mango gives you both the literal equivalent of the words and also their intended meaning. That way, you can avoid getting a little crazy!Mango MoviesMango has a small collection of authentic movies that you can use for immersive study. The films are only available for the most popular languages, though, and are pretty limited in number.If audio-visual input with rich cont ext is what you’re after, FluentU houses a large repository of authentic videos  to learn with. The program takes real-world videos such as music videos, interviews, movie trailers, news clips and much more and imbues them with the latest language-learning technology.Your simple video clip is then clothed with all the wonderful tools learners love. This includes interactive transcriptions, instant translations, pronunciation keys, usage examples and flashcard review. So suddenly, a simple video interview in, say, Italian can be milked for all the language lessons and insights it contains.Since FluentU relies heavily on visuals and Mango Languages relies on text, the two programs complement each other perfectly. You can get a feel for a language and its grammar on Mango, then head to FluentU and hear it in real time. Now thats a powerful combination of natural language learning!Now that we know what to expect from Mango Languages, here’s an honest review of what worked and didn†™t work for me about the program.Mango Languages: The ProsBeautiful and Intuitive InterfaceOne of Mango’s main strengths is its sleek interface. The screen features fonts, colors and design that are easy on the eyes and light on the mind. And the team has recently (in 2019) updated the software for an even more intuitive and streamlined experience.Your dashboard gives you a well-thought-out layout of everything youd want to do with Mangoâ€"from lesson progress to review prompts.The color-coding it employs in every lesson is a winner, too. Theres a correspondence between the font colors used for sample sentences and their English translations.For example, if the verb in the Spanish sentence is in red, its corresponding English verb will also be in red. Learners are able to intuit, without explicit grammar rules, how the elements in the sentences translate from one language to another. Cool!Robust Content for Major LanguagesFor major languages, like English and Spanish, there’s pl enty of content to pick up. You can easily spend 80-100 hours learning the target language.And, even better, Mango is continually adding lessons in their lineup so the units will only get better with time.Lessons Are InteractiveWith Mango, youre not just a passive recipient of information. The lessons get you to do something, engaging you to work actively with words and phrasesâ€"letting you manipulate their order in a sentence, prompting you to speak into the microphone or letting you in on a native speaker conversation.Mango lets you learn organically by practicing listening, reading, writing and speaking in the target language.Focus on Repetition and DrillsMango works with spaced repetition technology so it can tailor the lessons and review to your needs. When weak spots are identified, like a missed vocabulary word, the software’s algorithm ensures you get to work with that word a little bit more, so it’ll often come up in the review.New words and phrases are continually bei ng introduced so that youre always picking up something new, while at the same time reinforcing earlier presented words and phrases. With drills and repetition, a bridge is effectively made between the old and the new.Google Translate IntegrationThough far from perfect, Google Translate is the big daddy of the translation game.Mango Languages integrates with Google Translate. Thanks to this, you can fetch the translation for practically any word using whats probably the most advanced translation platform available today.Mango Languages: The ConsLack of Images and Video ComponentsMango Languages started with very few images to bolster their lessons. They’ve tried to rectify this with some recent visual additions to some of the courses, but there’s still plenty of room for more graphics, images and video content for the units.Having these elements embedded in the lessons would bolster the programs effectiveness, especially for the more visually-oriented learners.Visual learners wo uld benefit even more from that power duo we mentioned earlier. If you get tired of looking at the (admittedly lively and colorful) text, log on to FluentU and do some visually engaging learning, instead.This comes in the form of videos, but also every word has an associated image and checking a words definition even let you see it in use in other videos. This is a great way to get engaged with the vocabulary, but its also an excellent way to get more context.So heres what we recommend: Learn a few new words or phrases on Mango Languages. Then, head over to FluentU and reinforce those words and images through visually appealing content. Its win-win.Light Content for Minor LanguagesTo be fair, this is probably not just an issue for Mango, but for major language companies that offer a wide array of languages, in general. Its often the case that popular languages get a disproportionate investment in course development compared to the less popular ones. That’s very understandable but its something to be aware of.So, if youre studying a minor language, you’re usually better off going to native speaker websites that are focused and specialized just in the language you’re interested in.Grammar Content Could Be ReinforcedThe folks at Mango believe in organic language acquisition, and this belief is translated into how the courses are conducted.Youll realize that there’s not a lot of grammar instruction in Mango, save for some insightful grammar notes. Instead, youre expected to learn grammar implicitly by working on the drills and interacting with the slides.But for those who wanted an explicit, point-by-point tutorial on rules of grammar, you might want to look somewhere else.Over-repetition Can Prove Tedious“Repetition” is one of Mango’s advantages. But its actually a double-edged sword and that’s why it’s also listed as a “con.”Sometimes, the drills get too repetitive. For some learners, working with the same words and phrases over and over, e specially in the earlier lessons, can get too tedious and monotonous. They may not be encouraged to progress to more challenging lessons.That doesnt mean its not worth your time. Rather, you might want to break your learning up into chunks.So dont forget to take a break from Mango Languages and employ a number of different study methods so you can keep things fresh and fun. Read a bilingual story, make a study-date with a fellow language learner or do a five-minute mini-lesson on a topic you really enjoy watching with FluentU.Do whatever you need to do to keep going and keep enjoying the process!Lack of Content for Advanced Language LearnersMango Languages is a good learning resource if you’re an absolute beginner in the language you’re interested in. Theyll take you by the hand and slowly show you the ins and outs of the language.But if you’re an advanced student in need of more complex stimulation, Mango isnt for you.Lessons usually cap off at the intermediate level. Finishi ng a Mango course makes you knowledgeable about the languageâ€"not native speaker-fluent, but you’ll be able to navigate a foreign country adeptly. Don’t expect the course to be your only companion to fluency.As weve been suggesting throughout this post, Mango works best as part of a whole cocktail of books, audiobooks, language courses, and  one-on-one tutoring that you should get yourself into. Luckily, FluentU does have plenty of content for both intermediate and advanced learners, so thats also an option.So, after all that’s been said and done, was Mango Languages able to deliver on its promise?I’d say that theyre delivering on it.There are adaptive algorithms at work that can give you a personalized and tailored route to learning a new language.As a product, Mango has a bright future still ahead. The Mango staff is continually learning, and theyre learning the right stuff. In fact, theyve recently rebranded this year (2019), bringing in more features and functionalities to their system. Awesome!Something tells me we havent seen the last iteration of this variety of Mango.